Program Information

The YA-YA Network is a youth-led organization that trains young leaders who are passionate about making change in community organizing around social justice through peer anti-oppression political education such as workshops about the school-to-prison-pipeline. Right now, our YA-YAs are working on a campaign to get restorative justice into NYC public school to end suspensions and arrests that disproportionately impact youth of color. Through an impactful balance of political education and campaign work, young people foster organizing skills. YA-YA is staffed by folks who are aged 16-24, most of them are alum from the youth program.

Summer Social Justice Institute

Our 8 week Summer Social Justice Institute brings together youth (15-19) from across the city for community building, anti-oppression workshops, political education and organizing skills training. Learn how to organize for change. Participate in our campaign to end the School-to Prison Pipeline. The application is now open! Apply here

Open Events

YA-YA Confab: Open to all youth. A monthly meeting where all YA-YA’s come together to connect, celebrate what we’ve accomplished, and take a look at what’s coming up! An opportunity for YA-YA’s to stay connected, and great for new folks who’d like to join. For more information:shaktii@yayanetwork.org

AC (Action Committee):Open to all youth. AC is our activist hub. Every 2 weeks Tuesday at 4:30, we come together and combine our skills to enact concrete social & political change. AC is open to anyone wanting to get involved, and there are opportunities to connect & collaborate with activists across the city (and country). Come to the biweekly meeting for updates and join a subcommittee for hands-on planning on either Participatory Action Research or Base-building!For more information: shaktii@yayanetwork.org

YA-YA Studies:Open to all youth. YA-YA studies are where youth come together to learn how and why to advocate for themselves and their communities. Taking a critical look at current events, political ideologies, and the systems that maintain society; we will gain perspective as a group about what must happen to bring social and political change.​For more information: ayisha@yayanetwork.org

Monthly Open Events: Open to all youth. Check our calendar for info on our open events including Film screenings, open mics, Politics and Poetry, potlucks and more. Free. Food will be served.

Training Bootcamps

Facilitation Bootcamp​Become a kick ass workshop facilitator or improve your existing skills. Graduates of the Facilitation Bootcamp will take their skills on the road, bringing our School to Prison Pipeline, Organizing 101 and other workshops out to schools and youth programs around the city. Work with the Event Squad to host workshops at YA-YA. There is a stipend for successful completion of the bootcamp and for each workshop you facilitate.